Nick Charles

Artist Info

With dazzling melodic fingerpicking on six and twelve string guitars, stinging bottleneck slide and a lifetime’s stories and songs gathered or written on the world’s musical highways it’s no surprise that Melbourne’s AGE has labelled him as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”.

During his extensive and acclaimed career, Nick has released sixteen albums on major Australian and US roots music labels. His recordings have garnered world-wide recognition beginning with “My Place” and now his most recent release “Further Down the Line”.
This recognition has succeeded in having Nick signed to the Grammy Award winning label, Solid Air Records USA (“Home of the World’s Finest Guitarists”). The only other Australian recognized by the label being Tommy Emmanuel.

He has toured with and supported artists including John Hammond, Guy Clarke, Ralph McTell, Robyn Ford, Junior Wells and Taj Mahal and toured the US thirteen times performing more than 300 shows stateside in recent years.
Consistently averaging 150 shows a year in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, his music encompasses a delightful and eclectic mix of acoustic roots including blues, folk, country and early ragtime jazz. A lifetime obsession with the early acoustic blues masters underpins every aspect of his craft.

Some of Nick’s greatest awards and accolades include Best Solo Guitarist at the International Blues Challenge Memphis 2025, Blues Album of the Year 2016 at the AGE Music awards and Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year in 2014 (Australia’s highest folk accolade). He was also twice winner of the Australian Song Contest and won “Song of the Year 2013 and 2014” at the Australian Blues Awards.

“An awesome talent” – Australian Guitar Magazine
“Astonishing depth and richness” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Plays guitar like an angel” – Sydney Morning Herald
“A world class musician and composer” – The Black Rose Acoustic Society, Colorado
“Dazzling guitar, muscular vocals and clever literate songwriting” – Little Rock AR Folk Society
“Amazingly expressive” – Herald Sun
“His mastery of country blues is striking!” – Rhythms Magazine